Multiple businesses damaged in Iowa City fire

A massive fire damaged several businesses in Iowa City on Tuesday. The blaze was reported shortly after 3:30 p.m. in a large warehouse on the city’s southeast side.

Iowa City Fire Battalion Chief Greg Tinnes said all available off-duty firefighters were called in for assistance, along with volunteer firefighters from Hills, Solon and Coralville. “A fire of this level (happens) once a year or maybe once every two years,” Tinnes said. “It was spreading…rather quickly. Within about 10 minutes of being on the scene, we had our aerials up and started hearing multiple explosions.”

Fortunately, no one was injured. Witnesses also reported hearing several loud explosion shortly after the fire started and smoke could be seen from several miles away.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and the damage is still being assessed. The warehouse was subdivided into at least 10 businesses.